The prospect of a Biden-Trump rerun in the 2024 presidential election is widely proclaimed as inevitable, but it’s worth remembering that anything might happen to upset that matchup between now and Election Day next November.
Trump’s gathering legal woes could soon reach a tipping point, which means the Republican Party may be forced to find an alternative, and a growing field of contenders have already begun positioning themselves accordingly.
On the Democratic side, the only announced candidates besides Biden so far are crackpots (like RFK Jr.) but everybody is uncomfortably aware that Biden is not getting any younger. He also is scoring consistently low in the public opinion polls.
Stepping into a potential void on the Democratic side, should that prove to be necessary, could be the 51-year-old governor of Michigan. In “How Gretchen Whitmer Made Michigan a Democratic Stronghold,” the New Yorker profiles this potential candidate, who remains little known outside of the Midwest.
The main headline of the article is “The New Blue Wall.”
We live in a country divided electorally into two almost equal halves — red and blue — and the outcome in 2024 will hinge on a relative handful of voters in a handful of swing states.
Michigan is one of them. Whitmer won the state house in Lansing by stitching together a coalition with suburban women voters at its core. She has a moderate, pro-business, pro-union, pro-choice, anti-extremist message that resonates widely in the Midwest and other battleground areas of the country.
She also survived a bizarre kidnapping plot after Trump ignited his base against her.
With the GOP stuck in the mud with Trump and his angry, rural grievance crowd, there is little chance for the red side to compete for Whitmer’s core constituency as long as Trump heads up the ticket.
So Whitmer could theoretically be the younger fresh face both parties may need to win. In interviews with the New Yorkerand CNN, among others, Whitmer has denied Presidential ambitions — for now.
But the election isn’t for another 16 months or so and a lot can and probably will change by the time Election Day rolls around…
LINKS:
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In Spain’s Election, Left and Right Answer for the Company They Keep (NYT)
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Russian missile strikes hit Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing at least 1 and damaging historic cathedral (CBS)
In Black Sea Showdown, Russia Batters Ukraine’s Ability to Export Grain (NYT)
Ukrainian drone strike in Crimea ‘closed road and prompted evacuation’ (Guardian)
Crimea bridge closed after fuel depot hit - Russia (BBC)
Putin’s purge of allies shows he came closer to being toppled than anyone realized (The Hill)
How two new munitions could affect the war in Ukraine (Economist)
Ukraine is now the world’s most mined country. It will take decades to make safe. (WP)
How Afghan women secretly learn judo — over WhatsApp (Al Jazeera)
Nova Scotia floods cause 'unimaginable' damage (Reuters)
Relentless U.S. heat wave is likely to extend into August (Axios)
How climate change could cause a home insurance meltdown (NPR)
Is it really hotter now than any time in 100,000 years (The Conversation)
How California’s weather catastrophe turned into a miracle (WP)
Texas A&M President Resigns Amid Fallout Over Journalism Program (NYT)
OpenAI, Google will watermark AI-generated content to hinder deepfakes, misinfo (ArsTechnica)
The Scientists Who Understood Their Obligation to Humanity — Nuclear experts demanded limits on the atomic bomb. AI developers should follow that example. (Atlantic)
Google touts AI for news, insists journalists can’t be replaced (Al Jazeera)
Don’t Ask Dumb Robots If AI Will Destroy Humanity (Wired)
The Real Mystery of Bud Light (Atlantic)
‘Barbie’ & ‘Oppenheimer’ Fueling Mindblowing $300M+ Box Office Weekend (Deadline)
Trinity Nuclear Test’s Fallout Reached 46 States, Canada and Mexico, Study Finds (NYT)
How Oppenheimer weighed the odds of an atomic bomb test ending Earth (WP)
Nation’s Shark Experts: ‘You Could’ve Had This Job’ (The Onion)
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